Familiar Spirits

In tonight’s Harry Potter-inspired story, you are the proprietor of The Wild Hunt, a shop in the magical shopping district known as Surrey Alley, which pairs wizards with their animal familiars. You open the shop for the day, greeting each of the resident animals and reflecting on their specific magic. A young customer comes in, nervous about their initiation into the world of magic, and you assist them in bonding with their familiar.

As the day comes to a close, you recall your own experience bonding with your animal familiar.

Music/Sound: A Glimpse of Avalon by Flouw and Clairvoyance by Syntropy, Epidemic Sound

Transcript

Witness the connections between humans and animals in this fantasy bedtime story.

Sleep and Sorcery is a folklore and fantasy inspired sleep series.

My name is Laurel,

And I'll be your guide on tonight's fantastical journey.

Sleep and Sorcery is one part bedtime story,

One part guided meditation,

And one part dreamy adventure.

Listen to my voice for as long as it serves you,

And when you're ready,

Feel free to let go of this story and surrender to sleep.

If you're still awake as the story concludes,

I'll guide you through a relaxing visualization.

In tonight's story,

You are the proprietor of The Wild Hunt,

A shop in the magical shopping district known as Surrey Alley,

Which pairs wizards with their animal familiars.

You open the shop for the day,

Greeting each of the resident animals and reflecting on their specific magic.

A young customer comes in,

Nervous about their initiation into the world of magic,

And you assist them in bonding their familiar.

While one has loved an animal,

A part of one's soul remains unawakened.

Anatole France.

Brief are the moments of peace and quiet over Surrey Alley,

The often hectic shopping district for witches,

Wizards,

And other magical practitioners.

But it's these moments you savor.

When the sun has just risen over the rooftops,

Casting all in rose gold,

Falling like threads on the cobblestones,

There's the faint sweet smell of flowering trees over the scent of city life carried on the moisture of last night's drizzle.

On such quiet mornings as this,

Especially in that golden,

Glorious threshold between spring and summer,

When the early hours are tender and cool,

You take your walk just a little bit slower,

Only to soak up the placid beauty of it all.

In only a few hours,

These streets will come alive with shoppers,

Street performers,

And tourists,

A bustle and cacophony.

But for now,

The alley is yours.

It belongs to you and the tight-knit community of shopkeepers and proprietors.

And for this moment,

With no other people in sight,

It belongs to you and Ymir,

The tiny elf owl who rarely leaves your shoulder.

He's nestled now into the crook of your neck,

But wide awake,

As evidenced by the occasional soft whistle he makes.

Together you make for your shop,

Which teems with creatures of all shapes and sizes,

All potential familiars,

Ready to work magic with a human companion.

You have always had a special bond with animals.

Your parents noticed it when you were just a child.

You would play solo by the creek in those days,

Humming along with the birds in the trees,

And the little fish would swim right up to you and kiss your fingers.

Neighborhood cats would follow you home,

And on walks through the woods,

You always seemed to draw out the usually shy wildlife—boxes,

Badgers,

Pine martens,

And roe deer.

The older you got,

The more you came to understand and utilize this natural bond,

Which not only attracted animals to you,

But allowed you to,

In your own way,

Communicate with them.

You could look into the eyes of a dove and know its story,

Know its very soul.

This was the seed of who you would become,

Someone with a calling to bring people and animals together,

To aid,

Augment,

And enhance each other's lives and craft.

This was your own unique magic,

Which every witch or wizard—indeed,

Every person,

Creature living—has,

Whether they know it or not.

Some take a lifetime to discover their magical gift,

And others seem to radiate with it from birth.

Even those who never pick up a wand,

Never study the craft,

Have access to a gift like this.

For some,

That magical gift is as simple as always sensing when it's about to rain and always being prepared with an umbrella,

Or the ability to turn ordinary ingredients into a nourishing,

Transcendent recipe.

And it might be as grand as the ability to fly without airplanes,

Or wings,

Or broomsticks,

Or to shapeshift.

These gifts are as vast and varied as individuals are,

And because of your deep connection to them,

You know better than anyone that the members of the animal kingdom also have their own unique magic.

You're now approaching the door of your shop,

Lovingly named the Wild Hunt,

A reference to Norse mythology.

You've always loved the myths and legends of Scandinavia,

So many of which are linked to animals.

The Wild Hunt is a legendary chase led by the paternal god Odin,

Escorted by his spectral huntsmen,

Horses,

And hounds.

According to the legend,

This supernatural host thunders across the sky during yuletide,

A bridge between worlds.

Upon unlocking the door and entering the shop,

You're greeted by the cherub of the tabby cat in the window,

Whom you fondly call Freya.

This name is only symbolic,

Of course,

For as you've learned in your career,

Every animal has an inner,

Secret name,

Which they may choose to share or keep close.

In your experience,

It's only in instances of deep bonding between human and familiar that such names are revealed.

Cats,

In your experience,

Are masters of threshold magic,

Often able to see through veils to unseen worlds.

When a witch or wizard bonds a cat as a familiar,

It often indicates an affinity for traversing other worlds and fairy realms,

Working with spirits of the beyond,

Or seeing through time to divine the future.

Perhaps the best-known example of the familiar in history or folklore,

One only need think of all the superstitions surrounding black cats.

Felines are auspicious,

Magical helpers,

And they are also beloved household companions.

A good snuggle with a friendly cat can heal as well as any potion,

You've always said.

You give Freya a scratch under the chin,

Eliciting rich purrs,

But she is only the first of many to greet you within the walls of the wild hunt.

When you and Ymir head home each evening,

The animals get the run of the shop,

But you've built an extraordinary level of trust with each of them,

And they coexist peacefully in the space.

After Freya's friendly greeting,

You are met by dozens of animal sounds echoing through the shop,

Bird calls,

Croaks,

And joyful yaps.

With a flick of your wand,

You illuminate the lamps,

Bringing the shop into full light.

You never tire of the sight,

The feel of your place,

The front gallery where Freya and a few other content creatures love to lounge on countertops or bookshelves is unassuming enough,

Dark wood paneling and furnished like an old-fashioned antique shop.

As part of your opening routine,

You feed those creatures,

Giving pets where appropriate,

And ask them how their evenings were.

They each respond in their own way,

Through the connection you have,

But it's behind the counter,

In the back chambers,

Where the true wonders of the shop lie.

After caring for those animals up front,

You step through the curtain behind the desk,

The key mirror still nestled and now snoozing on your shoulder.

You're rather proud of the magic that makes this place what it is,

A wild oasis,

An enormous expanse of diverse habitat,

Snuggled through precise charm work into the space of an attached storefront.

Through numerous expansion spells,

You've turned what was once a dusty storeroom,

Only a few square meters,

Into a connected,

Seemingly limitless stretch.

Desert bleeds to grassland,

Taiga to tundra,

The outside in.

Here,

Your wilder animals reside,

Waiting to be called by a wizard with wilder magic,

Or a house cat will do for some magic users,

Others are best supported by the energy of the wolf,

The mountain hare,

Or even the tiger.

Such bonds between wizards and the wildest animals can be intensely powerful,

Even if the pair never reside together.

In those cases,

The energetic and psychic connection can bridge the greatest gaps in time and space.

In your years of work and study,

You've traveled all over the world in search of creatures with particular sensitivity to the craft.

In Tibet,

You've scaled cliffsides to converse with snow leopards,

Convincing them to join you at the wild hunt,

Where they might bond a witch or wizard aligned with shape-shifting magic.

You've met with elephants in wooded savannas,

Seeking out those who might support sages and those interested in exploring past lives.

And you've endeavored to make this place where they await the bond as home-like as their natural habitat.

You move through the various biomes of this microcosm,

Checking in on those animals who are awake and craving social interaction.

Some prefer to stay hidden in the brush or the trees,

And this gives you no offense.

But many of your animal friends enjoy the brief moments of your company before the shop opens for business.

You visit with the capuchin monkeys in the tropical forest,

The rabbits of the downs,

And the wild horses on the grasslands,

Before finally returning to the more modest storefront to open up for the day.

Already outside the broad windows of the wild hunt,

Surrey Alley is springing to life.

The sun now high,

Shoppers and browsers fill the streets,

And other shops begin to open their doors.

In these early hours,

You don't see many customers,

But a good number of children press their noses against the glass,

Amused by the kitty cat in the window,

The chameleon on a branch,

Or the bats hanging upside down in a corner of the shop.

During your downtime,

You sit behind the counter,

Circling destinations on a multitude of maps,

Planning your next trip to meet with more animals,

Your intent on a visit soon to Indonesia,

Where you might find several species of birds associated with divination.

Freya comes to sit with you,

Soaking up the warmth of the sun's rays,

Which hit the countertop just so.

Occasionally she angles for pets or belly rubs.

Ymir may be your bonded familiar,

But your connection with this cat is undoubtedly a special one.

She's resided in the shop for over two years now,

When most animals bond a human and leave your walls within a few months.

Part of you suspects that she's become so comfortable,

So content here,

That she actively resists bonding.

You're so fond of her you don't mind,

You'd be perfectly happy if she spent the rest of her days by your side.

Soon enough,

You start to welcome a steady stream of visitors to the shop.

Some are only browsing,

Drawn in by the exotic offering,

And some are seriously in the market for a familiar.

You endeavor to spend quality time with anyone who comes into the wild hunt,

As selecting an animal companion is an extraordinarily consequential decision.

The relationships are nearly always lifelong.

In days past,

Services like yours were harder to come by.

Most magic users,

If they desired an animal familiar,

Had to hope they would meet spontaneously or actively search the corners of the world for the right companion.

But your gift,

Your affinity for sensing the magic of all creatures,

Has enabled you to serve as a kind of medium,

A curator and facilitator of the bond between human and animal.

You speak with a witch who is looking to take the next step in her mastery of the alchemical arts.

There are several animals in the wild hunt who are natural companions for alchemists.

You introduce her to a fire salamander,

Then bring forward a number of birds,

A peacock,

A white swan,

A raven,

And an eagle.

You learn as much as you can about the witch's alchemical pursuits,

Her other natural gifts and magical affinities,

And her lifestyle,

Then ultimately suggest that she would have the strongest bond with the raven.

The witch considers and even seems charmed by the raven's demeanor,

But in the end,

She is not quite ready to make the decision.

You assure her that it's perfectly fine to take her time.

She's welcome to return whenever it feels right.

Each and every consultation you have is different,

Unique as the individuals and their magical pursuits.

You facilitate an immediate bond between a wizard whose great passion is for protection spells and a fiercely loyal hound.

But other customers need more time,

More assistance to uncover what they're really looking for in a familiar.

Sometimes you can achieve this by leading the seeker through a meditation to see what kind of animal floats to the surface of their unconscious.

And sometimes you find a starting point by asking the customer to pull a card from an oracle deck illustrated with various animals.

There are so many considerations that go into the forging of such a bond,

And you use every tool at your disposal to ensure the connections you make are the right ones.

The day passes between consultations and quiet downtime with Freya in your lap and Ymir on your shoulder.

You meet students entering their third or fourth year at the school of sorcery,

Eager to bond a familiar as they choose their paths of concentrated study.

And you meet older witches and wizards who've never considered bonding a familiar and now crave the simple companionship as much as a partner in magic.

You're satisfied with all the interactions you've had thus far,

Confident that you've opened doors for deep,

Fulfilling relationships between humans and animals.

In the glow of late afternoon,

The shop bell rings and a lone customer enters.

There's an air of hesitation or nervousness about him,

This young man,

By the looks of it fresh out of school and stepping into adulthood.

You greet him warmly,

And he offers a timid smile in return.

In an effort to make him feel more comfortable,

You give him some space to begin with,

Letting him know you're here to answer any questions and that he's free to have a look around at his leisure.

The young wizard nods and thanks you,

And you go back to studying your maps,

Occasionally looking up to see how he's doing.

He examines the chameleon,

So still on her branch she might be a statue.

Then he starts,

Audibly,

When she blinks and finally moves.

This laughter follows.

You decide to break the tension and the ice with the young wizard.

Her name is Scotty,

You say,

Slowly emerging from behind the counter and gesturing to the chameleon.

Or at least she lets me call her that.

We only learn their true names once bonded.

Scotty would make a wonderful familiar and companion,

Especially if you were most interested in perception magic,

Glamours,

Invisibility,

Illusions,

And so forth.

The young wizard smiles,

Seemingly feeling more at ease.

You introduce yourself and your work.

The wizard responds with his name,

Oliver.

You probe further.

Are you hoping to find your familiar today,

An animal companion to aid in your magic?

Sheepish,

Oliver responds.

To be honest,

I'm not sure,

But I saw your shop and just felt like I needed to see what was inside.

That's perfectly fine,

You say,

Watching Oliver's shoulders drop and tension fall away from his face.

If you decide you'd like to explore the possibility of a familiar bond,

You know where to find me.

But take your time,

It's a big decision.

What exactly is a familiar bond,

Oliver asks.

You smile.

Well,

It can vary greatly,

Different for each pairing,

You answer.

But ultimately,

It's a unique relationship between a human magic user and an animal with magical sensitivity.

The animal can be an aid or assistant in achieving one's magical ambitions,

A guide on the magical or spiritual journey,

Or a supportive companion.

Or,

You chuckle,

All of that and more.

And how do you know,

Oliver asks,

A spark of curiosity lighting up his eyes.

How do you find the one,

Or is there just one?

A very perceptive question,

You nod.

No,

There isn't just one familiar out there for all of us.

Just as we have many different kinds of relationships with other humans,

Bonding with a familiar is a mutual choice,

A commitment and a partnership,

Often lifelong.

But there are some bonds that are short-lived and no less meaningful or impactful for it.

You and your familiar work together for as long as it suits you both.

You indicate the tiny elf owl,

Sleepily snuggled in the crook of your neck.

This is Ymir,

You say.

We've been bonded for many years,

But he wasn't my first familiar.

You go on to describe the cat you worked with in your youth,

Absentmindedly scratching Freya on the chin as you speak.

The black and white cat helped you finesse your ability to communicate with animals and determine their magical affinities.

She lived a long,

Happy life at your side,

And together you grew in both magical skill and depth of compassion.

And as for how the bond is discovered,

You explain,

There are a few approaches.

You might be looking specifically for an animal to assist in honing a certain direction of your craft,

Or,

As it sometimes happens,

The emotional connection to the animal may develop first,

And the magical partnership follows organically.

Then,

You might discover magical ambitions you didn't know you had.

That's how Ymir and I became bonded.

Now you tell the story of meeting the little elf owl several years after the passing of your first familiar.

You had just begun to dream of opening the shop,

And were traveling through North America to recruit animals as potential familiars.

You found the fledgling owl,

So tiny he fit in the palm of your hand,

Having just left the nest.

It was an instant connection,

As if he'd imprinted on you.

In the first moments of your acquaintance,

You learned the owl's true,

Inner name,

And sensed his capacity to aid in wisdom magic.

Together,

You honed an ability to see more deeply than most,

Sensing and understanding the tiny events that string together to influence larger ones.

The little things that come together in any individual to make them unique.

It only strengthened your gift,

And made you a more compassionate and effective communicator with creatures of all species.

Oliver seems touched by the story,

And he smiles at the tiny owl tucked into your shoulder.

He confesses he's not entirely sure where his own magical gifts lie.

You inquire as to what subject most intrigued him when he studied at the School of Sorcery.

But that's just it,

Oliver explains.

He didn't study there.

He only recently discovered his magical sensitivity,

And was initiated into the hidden world of witches,

Wizards,

And sorcerers.

Ah,

You say knowingly.

Such things are rare,

But not unheard of.

Most magical children are identified and invited to study before primary school age,

But there are folk who come to their magical practice later in life.

Many of whom become accomplished practitioners.

Your heart softens toward the youth,

Who must feel quite disoriented,

Stepping into this entirely new world without any formal guidance.

You're grateful that he walked through your door today,

Because you were made for this.

You who have such insight into the soul,

And have helped so many others access their unique gifts.

With good fortune,

You could send this young man along today with a companion,

Someone to help him become the wizard he's meant to be,

And ease the transition into the world of magic.

So,

With tenderness and optimism,

You offer to introduce Oliver to some of the animals who reside in the shop,

From the ones who lounge by the windows,

To those who inhabit the more expansive regions in the back of the property.

With a wave of your wand,

You enchant the sign on the door to rewrite itself in black ink,

Closed for a private appointment.

Thank you for understanding.

Oliver's eyes widen when you lead him through the curtain and into the wide expanse of habitat concealed behind the counter.

He's never seen anything like it,

And he can hardly form words to express his disbelief.

Together,

You visit the rabbits of the downs,

The wild horses,

The capuchin monkeys,

And more.

Oliver is intrigued by each and every creature you encounter,

Elephant to elephant shrew,

But you sense you haven't quite found the right match yet.

He needs a familiar who will excel as magical aid,

But also as compassionate friend.

Most animals are capable of both to some degree,

But such a bond cannot be forced.

After some time trudging through savannah and wilderness,

You sense that Oliver is becoming discouraged.

You assure him that even if he doesn't find his match today,

There is a familiar out there for him.

You return to the front of the shop together,

Where dwell so many of the smaller creatures.

Freya greets you by winding her way around your legs.

Oliver reaches down to pat her on the head.

My longest resident,

You say,

Indicating the cat,

Even as you cross to the corner where fruit bats hang upside down,

Subsumed in sleep.

Though on second thought,

A nocturnal familiar might not suit someone already turning his life upside down.

You bring over a small,

Bright green tree frog for Oliver to meet,

But as soon as you turn to face him,

You notice that the young wizard is still crouching beside Freya.

The shop cat has rolled herself onto the floor,

Exposing her belly and loudly purring.

Oliver rubs her belly,

Then scratches behind her ears.

Freya slowly closes her eyes,

Her face settled unmistakably into a smile.

And there,

Between them,

Like a shining thread,

Like a haze of gold and blue,

Magic made visible,

Lies the bond.

Oh,

You find yourself saying,

There's surprise at the heart of it,

And some twinge of bittersweet sadness,

But also an overwhelming emotion like pride or joy,

A sweet recognition that this is the end of something.

And the beginning of something even more meaningful.

Freya's been with you for a long time,

A constant companion during your daily duties,

A friend you've come to cherish,

And who you imagined might never leave the shop.

But you can see it,

Clear as day,

The bright connection weaving between wizard and familiar,

The start of a lifelong partnership.

And you couldn't imagine a better steward for the young man's first steps into the world of magic.

As if sensing the depth and complexity of your emotion,

Ymir coos softly by your ear.

You hadn't realized he was awake.

You reach up and stroke the small owl on the head,

Grateful for his presence.

Looks like we'll be saying goodbye,

You whisper to Ymir.

He snuggles in closer to you,

And you smile.

This is why you do what you do.

The look of sheer warmth and comfort on Oliver's face,

The security on Freya's,

In the essence of magic that twines between them,

Visible only to you,

But clearly felt by all parties,

You can catch glimpses of the extraordinary possibilities that await.

There will be practice,

And failure,

And mastery of spells and potions and skills once undreamt of by the new wizard,

But more importantly,

There will be cozy nights by the fire,

Curled up with a book,

And shared warmth between caring companions.

There will be such spellbinding adventures.

You only hope they won't forget you,

And that once in a while,

They'll visit and tell you stories of what they've achieved together.

When at last Oliver leaves,

With a contented Freya purring in his arms,

You give the cat one last scratch under her chin.

You don't need words to tell her what she's meant to you,

Or what she will mean to her new friend.

With all the love in your heart,

And all the goodwill that spurs you to do this work,

You wish them well.

The day is waning,

Outside the little shop,

On the bustling alley,

Where magic lights every corner.

You perform your closing duties with ease,

Feeding animals,

Settling the books,

And so on.

Sunset throws a rosy glow over Surrey Alley,

Which streams in,

Shimmering through your shop windows.

It's a hopeful light,

You think.

And with your heart full,

You and Ymir lock up and depart.

Perhaps you will stop at the alley's best inn and pub,

The Witch's Brew,

For supper and a nightcap.

You almost always meet friends there,

And tonight,

You delight in some friendly conversation.

Donning your hat and cloak,

And turning out the lights on the shop sign with a swish of your wand,

You step into the last glimmer of sunlight.

Soften and find peaceful stillness here,

As you settle in,

Relaxing toward sleep.

Deepen your breathing,

In and out,

With a natural rhythm that feels both rich and easy,

As you allow your body and mind to slide into this rhythm,

Letting go,

Little by little,

Of attachment to the waking world.

You are invited to visualize a beautiful natural setting,

A forest,

A garden,

An ocean side,

Or whatever environment feels the most relaxing and supportive for you right now.

Take your time finding this place,

Letting it come into focus,

Letting your mind fill in the details,

All the things you can see,

What you can hear,

Water,

Weather,

Birds or animals,

What you can smell,

Flowers,

Sea salt,

Fresh rain.

In your mind's eye,

Move slowly through this setting,

Feeling your footfalls on the ground,

The air on your skin,

Breathe it in,

Breathe it out.

Noticing all the deep beauty and serenity of this place.

Keep moving through the natural setting,

Allowing your mind and body to align with its rhythms,

The wind,

Or the waves,

Or the growth of trees,

Coming to slow down here,

To soften.

And as you go,

Moving to the rhythm of the natural world,

You notice something that you hadn't before.

That you are not alone.

You are accompanied by an animal of some kind,

Who walks,

Flies,

Swims,

Or otherwise travels beside you,

Their own rhythms perfectly aligned with yours.

As if they are your shadow.

Have they been there all this time,

Or did they only just arrive?

Take some time to simply move,

Side by side,

Not needing to look at the animal head on,

Or say anything,

Just feeling each other's company.

Warm,

Supportive,

And symbiotic.

Feel how their movements reflect your very own,

As if you are connected by invisible threads of magic.

What kind of animal are they?

Without looking directly at them,

Consider what you know about this animal,

Their features,

Their behaviors,

What they may symbolize in stories or myths.

Consider why this animal might have been the one to appear to you here on the threshold of sleep.

What qualities do you share?

What gifts do you reflect or aspire to?

Or aspire to?

Take some time to feel the animal's presence,

Safe and comforting,

In this beautifully supportive environment.

Feel the exchange of energy between you,

As if your souls are entwined,

Or even as if the animal is a physical manifestation of your energy,

Your unique gifts and qualities.

Let yourself be filled with a warm,

Inviting glow of love for your animal companion,

For your animal companion,

And thus for yourself.

Because your connection is love.

And let that love,

That magical bond,

Take the form of a soft,

Subtle light,

As if you are inwardly shining.

Let this manifest as a physical sensation as well,

Relaxing and rinsing your body and mind of all negativity,

Worry,

Stress.

And replacing those thoughts or feelings with this warmth,

Light,

And love.

When you are ready to look directly at your animal companion,

Turn to face them,

And take in all the details of them.

They also radiate with warmth and glowing light,

Love and connection,

Admiration for you,

And all your unique talents and gifts.

You are one of a kind,

Gifted with your own kind of magic.

And your connection with this animal spirit is one of a kind,

Supportive of your dreams,

Energies,

And ambitions.

Breathe easily,

And let yourself be filled with light and love.

You can remain here,

In your tranquil surroundings,

Moving through the environment for as long as you like,

Moving closer to the edge of sleep.

Or whenever you're ready,

You can let the visualization go,

And simply settle into the breath,

And the sensation of your body lying in your bed.

Wherever you are,

Embrace softness,

Security,

And love.

Let go,

And ease into sleep.

Breathe.

Good night.

Reviews

Adored this x

I don't know. I was sound asleep within minutes, but I love cats, so ...

Thank you for another wonderful sleep.

Beautiful story and reading. Blessings 🙏

I rely on her stories for sleep. So wonderful and I have to listen to the same story several times because it doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep. Thank you so much.

You did it again! Another sweet magical story. Looking forward to your return.

Another creative story. I love it.

What a cute kitten. Having an animal familiar is something, I think, we all wish we could have, to magic our way through life's adventures.
But, I couldn't be without my 2 adorable fur babies & we understand eachother quite well. What a blessing they are. Thankyou for this Story, Laurel. 🌷🙏Léna 😊🐱🐱🐨

Super fun bedtime story! Although missed yet another ending. 😉😴 Thank you! 🙏

Loved this! It was just what I needed!
Thank you!
Tami

Wonderful. 🐈🐈‍⬛

Such a beautiful and heartwarming story 💕 you are truly an artist, your writing never ceases to soothe my spirit and inspire my dreams 💕 thank you for another wonderful story!

What a beautiful, satisfying story, Laurel, thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻I could just hear Freya purring…🙏🏻🌟✨🌟💫🌟🙏🏻

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️I’ve been hoping for more stories about different shop keepers referred to in other stories and here one is! Sleep and sorcery is my go to when I can’t sleep 😴

So god! It’s like you know the next story I want to hear!

Would say I loved hearing about choosing a pet familiar however found the story so soothing soon fell asleep. So glad to be back walking down Surrey alley. Thank you so much x